Tube bundle handling equipment



Dec. 18, 1962 F. P. BROUSSARD 3,

TUBE BUNDLE HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed May 21, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l lllrlllll Dec. 18, 1962 F. P. BROUSSARD TUBE BUNDLE HANDLING EQUIPMENT 3 SheetsSheet 2 Filed May 21, 1959 Dec. 18, 1962 F. P. BROUSSARD 3,059,141

TUBE BUNDLE HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed May 21, 1959 5 Sheets-s 3 along the pallet.

the drum at exactly the same speed.

3 069 141 TUBE BUNDLE nANnarNo EQUIPMENT Frank P. Broussard, Port Arthur, Tern, assignor to Texaco Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 21, 1959, Ser. No. 814,869 2 Claims. (Cl. 254-185) The present invention relates to novel apparatus for moving a tube bundle out of or into a horizontal heat exchanger shell.

Oil refineries and chemical plants employ many large heat exchangers wherein a cylindrical bundle comprising many metal tubes is located within a cylindrical metal shell, whereby heat exchange may be obtained between a fluid passing through the tubes and another fiuid passing around the tubes within the shell. Such heat exchangers are often very large in size, such as 4 feet in diameter and 20 feet long, and may weigh several tons. They may be located near the ground, or elevated as much as 75 feet in the air.

After a heat exchanger has been in use for some time, it is usually necessary to remove the tube bundle from its shell for cleaning and repair. In the past a tube bundle has been removed by employing a large steel scaffolding upon which workmen stand while they jack the tube bundle out of the shell. is a permanent part of the heat exchanger installation; other times it must be built for each tube bundle removal job. In either case, it is expensive and requires a great deal of space which could be used to better advantage for other purposes. Furthermore, much manual labor is required.

Copending applications Serial Nos. 666,061, 697,825 and 734,337 described removing a tube bundle from a horizontal heat exchanger shell by positioning a portable bundle support or pallet adjacent one end of the shell while suspending it from a crane, holding the pallet firmly in position, and dragging the tube bundle from its shell with a traveling carriage which moves longitudinally Then the tube bundle and pallet together are moved by the crane to a location where reconditioning is to be done.

The apparatus described in application Serial No 734,337 embodies a unitary cable drum upon which two driving cables are wound in opposite directions so that when winding one cable onto the drum to drive the carriage in one direction, a second cable must unwind from While this type of apparatus is entirely operable and constituted an im- .portant advance in the art, further experience has demonstrated that it is more desirable for adequate control of the operation forthe cables to be independent of one another so that the unwinding cable does not necessarily pay off at exactlythe same rate as the cable being wound.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided similar apparatus for moving tube bundles, but which comprises a cable drum made up of two separate drum sections which preferably are axially aligned and arranged in adjoining end-to-end relationship. Additionally, the apparatus includes a selectively operable clutch device for connecting one or the other of the drum sections in driving relationship to a driving motor so that when one section is positively driven to wind cable thereon, the other section is free to rotate idly while paying oif cable. A braking device operates to impose a frictional force on each drum section whereby its rotation is retarded so that too rapid pay off of cable is prevented. Otherwise, while a drum section is idlying it may rotate at too great a speed and cable may pass off so rapidly as to tangle or form a loop.

Details of the apparatus and its function Will be Sometimes such a scaffolding about the center of the apparatus.

lifidhidl Eatented Dec. 18, 1952 described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pallet for removing or replacing tube bundles, embodying the novel drum construction of the invention; 1

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the pallet shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale of the forward half of the pallet shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the improved drum as seen from the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the drum, parts being broken away and shown in longitudinal section;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational View of the shaft upon which the cable drum sections are journaled for rotation;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the shaft of FIG. 6, part being cut away and shown in section;

FIG. 8 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of only the cable drums of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 1il-1ti in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the clutch cylinder of the apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the clutch cylinder of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken through the shaft coupling along the line ll3l3 in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3, the general assembly of apparatus embody- 'ing the invention comprises two parallel spaced I beams B1 and B2 secured together at their ends and at intermediate points.

Adjacent the middle of the apparatus there is a rectangular frame P which extends across the bottoms of the I beams and projects laterally therefrom on both sides of the apparatus. A pair of outriggers 0-1 and 02 extend from the sides of the I beams at positions between their ends and frame F for connection to the cables retion against the flange of a heat exchanger shell.

A carriage E is movable longitudinally along beams B1 and B2 on wheels which ride upon a pair of tracks T1 and T2 mounted upon the webs of the I beams between the top and bottom (see FIG. 4). Movement of carriage E along the pallet is accomplished by a pair of cables A1 and A2 which are wound in opposite directions upon a transversely extending motor driven drum D located at Cables A1 and A2 both pay off the drum at the top. These cables are rigged through four sets of sheaves on the bottom of carriage E, and also through sheaves at the ends of the support bed, all in the manner described in detail in copending application Ser. No. 734,337.

Consequently, when the drum D is rotated in one direction to reel in cable A1, carriage E is advanced from left to right along the support bed for removing a tube bundle from its shell. A the same time cable A2 unwinds so that there is no hindrance to movement of the carriage. Conversely, when drum D is rotated in the *opposite direction, cable A2 is wound onto the drum and providing the proper amount of slack. If there was too much slack the cable tended to wind in a double layer, thus preventing the desired smooth and unhindered movement of carriage E because the feeding and takeup rates would be different. To obviate this disadvantage I have constructed my present drum D of two axially aligned drum sections D1 and D2 adjoining one another in endto-end relationship. Furthermore, I have also provided a novel clutch mechanism for connecting only one of the drum sections at a time to the driving motor. The construction and arrangement of parts will be described in greater detail with particular reference to FIGS. 4 to 13.

A unitary driving shaft 21 extends transversely of beams B1 and B2 and is journaled in the webs 23 and 25 for rotation. A coupling 25' connects shaft 21 to driving motor 26 (see FIG. 1) which is reversible in operation so as to rotate the shaft in opposite directions according to which way the carriage is to move. While any suitable type of reversible motor may be employed, I have successfully used a compressed air driven reversible motor of the type sold by the Gardner-Denver Co. as a cylinder type piston motor, Model 60287.

Two axially aligned hollow drum sections D1 and D2 are sleeved over shaft 21, and each is provided with two longitudinally spaced bushings 27 which engage the shaft and act as bearings so that both drum sections, when disengaged from the driving motor, are free to rotate on the shaft.

The adjoining inner ends of the drum sections have radially extending flanges 29 and 31 so constructed that flange 31 rides within flange 29. These flanges cooperate with additional flanges 33 and 35 adjacent opposite ends of the drum sections to keep the cables on the drum sections.

Around the internal circumference of each drum section at a position near its inner end there is a series of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending grooves 37 and 38 adapted to cooperate with a longitudinally movable clutch 39 for selectively engaging either one of the drum sections with the driving motor, while the other is disengaged. Such a clutch comprises a hollow cylinder having radially projecting teeth 81 so constructed and arranged around the outer periphery as to fit slidably into the corresponding grooves 37 or 38. The clutch cylinder in turn is mounted upon shaft 21 in driven relationship thereon and is slidable into and out of engagement with the two drum sections D1 and D2, as will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 12.

Clutch 39 is moved from one drum section to the other by a longitudinally extending shift rod or shaft 45 fitting within a bore 47 extending from one end of shaft 21 to about the middle. At its outer end rod 45 is coupled by a coupling 49 to a second push rod 51 connected to a piston 53 movable in two directions within a cylinder 55 which is mounted upon the frame F. The construction of coupling 49 will be described more in detail hereinafter.

Piston 53 is actuated by compressed air supplied selectively through one or the other of the tubes 57 and 59 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. When drum section D2 is to be driven by motor 27 the operator actuates a valve 103 (FIGS. 1-3 to supply compressed air to the tube 59, thus moving piston 53 to the left so that shaft 45 pushes clutch 39 out of engagement with the grooves of drum D1 and into engagement with the grooves 38 of drum D2.

When either of the drum sections D1 and D2 is disengaged from the driving motor, it is free to rotate or idle on the shaft 21. In order to prevent too rapid pay off of cable from such a drum, which may result in looping or tangling of the cable, each drum section is provided with a brake 61, 62 comprising a brake shoe 63, 64 within a cylindrical housing 65, 67 mounted on the I beams B1 and B2. Within the housing are heavy springs 69 which press the brake shoes against the cylindrical surfaces of the drum sections adjacent their ends so as to apply a retarding force as the cable is payed off.

, rod 51 is held against rotation.

Now referring particularly to FIGS. 6 to 12, the construction of the clutch mechanism will be described in more detail. The shaft 21 has a .series of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending radial splines or teeth 71 and a longitudinally extending key way 73 which passes transversely completely through the shaft to form a long thin slot. The shaft 45 (see FIGS. 5 and 9) carries near its inner free end a thin key 75 which extends transversely through a slot in the rod and projects transversely from the opposite ends of the slot into key way 73 in shaft 21. Key 75 is narrower than keyway 73 so that shaft 45 is free for a limited amount of longitudinal movement Within the bore 47.

Referring to FIG. 9, the clutch cylinder 77 is sleeved over shaft 21 and has a series of internal circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves 79 fitting over the splines 45 so that the clutch cylinder is slidable longitudinally on the shaft to carry teeth 81 into and out of engagement with the two drum sections D1 and D2.

Furthermore, clutch cylinder 77 has radial slots and 82 into which fit the ends of key 75.

In operation, when shaft 45 is pushed to the left in FIG. 5, key 75 slides to the left in key way 73, carrying with it the clutch cylinder 77 from its position in mesh with drum section D1 into mesh with drum section D2, thus disconnecting D1 from the motor and connecting D2 to be driven by the motor. Conversely, when D2 is to be disconnected subsequently, shaft 45 is moved to the right in FIG. 5 by introducing air through the tube 57 so that key 75 carries clutch cylinder 77 toward the right, out of engagement with drum section D2 and into engagement with drum section D1.

Referring to FIG. 13 the coupling 49 is so constructed that rotation of the shaft 45 is permitted while the push Push rod 51 is threaded into and pinned to a head 85 which in turn is secured to a hollow cup 87 by a pin 89 which projects at its lower end from the bottom of the cup. Cup 87 includes a space 91 in which is secured the end of shaft 45 by a washer 93 pinned onto the shaft and bearing against a shoulder 95 which retains it firmly within the space while permitting some rotation. Rotation of rod 51 is prevented by retaining the lower end of pin 89 within a slot 97 extending lengthwise of a bracket 99 below the coupling.

When operating the apparatus the direction of rotation of motor 27 and of the drum sections D1 and D2 is con trolled by a valve 103 located on the side of the I beam B1 near the front of the apparatus. Valve 103 can be turned so that compressed air from main 101 is supplied to a line 105, whereupon compressed air enters motor 27 to rotate it in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 so that drum section D2 will wind in cable A1. Concurrently, compressed air is supplied through branch line 107 to the outer end of cylinder 55 to actuate piston 53 so as to engage the clutch 39 with drum section D2, thus moving carriage E to the right along the support for withdrawing a tube bundle.

When the reverse operation is desired, the operator merely turns the valve 103 to supply compressed air to line 109, whereupon the direction of rotation of motor 27 is reversed and compressed air also is supplied through branch line 111 to the inner side of cylinder 55 to shift the clutch 39 out of connection with drum section D2 and into driving connection with drum section D1.

The cables may be secured to the drum sections in any conventional manner. In the particular embodiment illustrated, referring to FIGS. 8 and 10, the end of the cable is passed through bore 113 in the drum section and is provided with an enlarged cable clamp near the end to prevent its being pulled out of the bore.

Instead of reversing the direction of rotation of motor 27 to change the pull on carriage E, the same result may be accomplished without change in rotation by paying one of the cables A1, A2 on at the top and the other at the bottom of their respective drum sections.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention, as hereinbefore set forth, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cable drum for apparatus to move a tube bundle out of or into a heat exchanger shell comprising two axially aligned drum sections arranged end to end and adapted to be supported at their opposite ends on a support bed; selectively operable mechanism within said drum sections for coupling either one of said drum sections to driving mechanism while the other section is unconnected and free to idle, said selectively operable mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft extending from said driving mechanism within said drum sections, said drum sections being rotatable on said shaft; a second shaft extending into saidfirst shaft; clutch mechanism carried by said second shaft and operable upon longitudinal movement of said second shaft into and out of driving connection with said drum sections alternatively, one of said drum sections being disengaged for idling while the other of said drum sections is engaged for driving, said clutch mechanism comprising first gear teeth on the internal circumference of both of said drum sections, second gear teeth on the outer circumference of said first shaft, and an annular clutch cylinder slidably mounted on said first shaft, and having internal and external teeth adapted to mesh with the teeth of said first shaft and said drum sections, respectively, and means connecting said clutch cylinder to said second shaft whereby longitudinal movement of said second shaft shifts said clutch cylinder along the teeth on said first shaft from engagement with one of said drum sections to engagement with the other of said drum sections; and shift mechanism connected to said second shaft operable to move said second shaft in a longitudinal direction to shift said driving mechanism at will into and out of driving engagement with either of said drum sections.

2. In apparatus as defined in claim 1, coupling means connecting said second shaft to said shift mechanism, said second shaft being rotatable with respect to said coupling means, and means for preventing rotation of said coupling means as said second shaft rotates.

References Cited in the fiie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 138,612 Carr May 6, 1873 315,239 Carlin Apr. 7, 1885 1,229,036 Conner June 5, 1917 1,389,324 Stevenson Aug. 30, 1921 1,566,349 Slater Dec. 22, 1925 1,567,483 Bear Dec. 29, 1925 1,664,377 Clark Mar. 27, 1928 2,016,130 Wren Oct. 1, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 444,390 Germany May 20', 1927 

